peterson



J. PETERSON.

LABELING- MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23.1917.

1,317,389. PatentedSept. 30,1919.

H SHEETS-SHEET I.

Jana .Pefiwon g M attozuew,

1-. PETERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. 1917 1 ,3 1 7, 389 I Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

H SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0] l wemfoz va wrwmm J. PETERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. 1917.

1 ,3 1 7, 389. Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

ll SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5] nve'nfoz,

efo i kmro m.

.I. PETERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. 1917.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

5 mom Jo VIIHIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIH vl Jbmizan fefeman. $1 M4 aumm L Lam LPETERSON. LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. I917.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

II SHEETS-SHEET 5.

$13 atto'awup J. PETERSON.

LABELING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, I91? 1. ,3 1 '7, 389a Patented. Sept. 30, 1919.

H SHEETS-SHEET 6. g

5 Winn/ 0'0 Jonaiajz feinramv 351; I414 attozwciga, I

J. PETERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

TlON FILED APR. 23, 19H.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

ll SHEETS-SHEET 7.

a wmhw We;

APPLICA n A Z J. PETERSON.

LABE LING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, I91].

1 ,3 1 7, 389. Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

1ISHEETSSHEET 8.

I 5 nveyvfoz, r I m ffizwvm. $5 attozmup va w'mzmw J. PETERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23' I917.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

ll SHEETS-SHEET 9.

*1 a: g Q g g R i Jnaian/ l el erwara %14 flitozmew,

wzgwfimam ma I. PETERSON. LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-23.19I7.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

I I SHEETS-SHEET I 1- war C WIIIIIIIIIIII X I anvevvi'oz,

' Jbna/flm flier-won 351g 614 15001421 4,

JONATHAN rnrnnson, or encore-Irv, new roan.

LABELING-MACHINE.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, J ONATI-I'AN FETERsoN,

a citizen of thejUnited States, residing at" 746 St. Marks avenue, Brooklyn, New York,

in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Labeling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in labeling machines and more particularly to machines for applying labels, etc., to containers, boxes, etc.

The general objects of the invention are to provide apparatus embodying mechanisms so correlated in operation as to provide individual manipulation of each label and container during travel through the apparatus and, at the same. time, permit such individual manipulations to be provided in close succesion with a resultant In practice, machines of.

large capacity. the type herein disclosed have delivered labeled containers at a rate in excess of 300 containers per minute.

Other objects are to provide astr'ucture of compartivelycompact form, and having mechanisms each of which performs its individual functions in rapid succession with the several mechanisms correlated to produce these successive cycles of manipulation with each cycle complete as to the time necessary to insure proper label application. To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the impro ed construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and. more particularly pointed out in the appended claims;

In the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate simliar parts in each of the views:

Figures 1 and 1 eombinedly show a plan view of the machine with portions omitted for the sake of clearness.

Figs. 2 and 2 combinedly show a side elevation of the machine of Figs. 1 and 1, parts omitted'in Figs. 1 and 1 being included, parts being broken away to illustrate structural details.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the feeding. end of the machine- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end of the machine opposite that of Fig. 3. 4 Fig. 5 is a view partly in elevation and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented fiept. 3Q, 121%.

Application filed April 23, 1917. Serial Ito. 163,968.

partlyin section of an intermediate portion of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the end of the machine shown in Fig. 4, showing the final label wiping structure in position.

Fig. 7 is a view partly in.el evation and partly in section of portions of the label feeding mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a 'sectionalview taken on line 8- -8 of Fig. 7.

. Fig. 9 is a View in elevation of a portion of the label supply drum.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a label-retaining element employed in connection with the. drum of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 'isa perspective view of a follower employed ,in the compartments or pockets of the label supply drum.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of the follower of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of mechanism for controlling the label segregating and feeding mechanism of the label feed drum or picker.

Fig. 14 is a view partly' in elevation and partly in section of the structure of Fig.

13, the view being at approximately right angles to Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15-1'5 of Fig. 14, showing the parts in position when the machine is at rest.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15, with the parts moved to the positions occupied when the machine is in operation.

I Figs. 17 and18 are views in end and side elevation, respectively, of the key or valve member employed in controlling the operation of the label picker.

Fig. 19 is a view in elevation of a rotatable element active in feeding the labels.

Fig. 20 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing an automatic detector mechanism for controlling certain operations of the label carrier mechanism.

taken through the container feeding mech anism.

Figs. 26 to 28 inclusive are cross-sectional (ill views taken on lines 26'26, 2727 and 28-28, respectively, of Fig. 25.

Fig. 29 is a sectional view taken on line 29-429 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 30 is a detail perspective'view of a.

block structure employed in the container feeding mechanism.

herein is applicable for applying labels to containers of various configurations, as for instance, boxes'having circular contours, or

boxes having contours more or less angular in type, or with rounded corners and to which a label is to be applied with the label extending on more thanone face of the box,-

Obviously, the container may have other than a box form. However, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, '1 have shown the embodiment as adapted to apply labels to the periphery of a container having its label-receiving face of circularcontour, it being understood, of course, that changes in construction may be required where a difi'erent configuration is emiployed, althoughthe disclosed machine wi l operate in connection with contours which are not trulycylindrical, as for ina stance, a'more or less oval. contour.

, As heretofore pointed out, the machine is designed more particularly to provide for large output or capacity, and to produce this result it is desirable that hand manipulation of the labels and containers be reduced to a minimum. This is provided by the use of various mechanisms, or instrumentalities which are correlated in operation in such manner as to provide practically a continuous travel of labels and containers, with the -mecha nisms timed to produce such generalresult.

Before giving a detail description of operating parts, I will first give a brief outline of the general operation of the machine and especi'a ly of the label deliverin ,"adhesive applying, label positioning'and a King steps of the general cycle'through which eachcoxk tainer and its label passes. I

The labels are carried by a rotatable drum having a plurality of pockets or com artments'each carrying a supply of individual extendin labels bein labels which have their directions of length transverse to the general .direction ,of la el travel through the machine, the free from adhesive coating, Rotation o the label 'supplv drum causes as the several pockets to be successively brought itsends, so that u belt structures, be tJa n atyl pass out of the arness into the sphere of operation of a label segregating drum or label picker rotatable synchronously with the label supply drum and which is adapted to remove an individual label from each pocket in succession and carry it to and deposit it on the adhesiveapplying mechanism. The specific structures and operations of these drums will. be presently described.

The adhesive-a plying mechanismfls in the form of traveling belts, these belts being preferably endless and having flights which become active in the application of the adhesive to the label and serve to carry the label to its point of-application to the container. In the particular embodiment shown,

the adhesive-applying belts are three in number, arranged as shown in Fig.33, the outer belts, a and a beingspaced apart, a third belt a being located between the outer belts. These belts have their flights arranged in such manner as'to provide the application of a coatin of adhesive material on that surface whic is uppermost and in opposition to the label segregating drum or picker at the time when the label is to be deposited onthe belts. Fig. 33 indicates the arrangement ofthe belts, and shown as having a layer of adhesive 5, while Fig. 34 indicates the position of a label 0 on these coated faces. As will be seen, the individual belts provide stripes or zones which extend transverse to the direction of length of the label, but the close relation of the belts at this time is such that but a slight portion of the label is left free from adhesive. As will be understood, the center of the label and its opposite ends are in direct contact with these coatedbelt faces.

Advancing travelofthe belts-a, a and a carries them to a point where two endless belts (Z and d, traveling at the same speed with belts a and a pass into contact with the upper face of the label, as in Fig. 35.

"Belts (2 and d are arranged opposite to belts a and-a and are preferably of less width than said belts, the inner edges of the opposing belts being practically on thesame vertical plane Obviously, this may be varied as found desirable.

While the belt arrangement of Fig. 33

provides what may be considered as a travcling table or carrier for receiving the, labels, the coiiperation therewith of belts d and d serves to more or less grip the label adj acent on further travel of the table-forming relation w t out affecting the position of the label on the remainder of the table, the general belt arrangement at'this time, being shown in Fig. 36, in which the label is shownashaving the central portion I of its under side exposed and carrying adhesive coating The container is brought into engagement till) arness with this exposed adhesive-coated face of the label;

In order to provide the necessary rapidity I of feed of the containers to provide the high capacity of the machine, the containers are preferably fed, in a plurality of rows or travel paths, the machine of the drawings employing two of such rows, the containers being supplied from a suitable source and successively delivered to a container feeding or transfer drum which coiiperat/es with both container runways so as to receive the containers therefrom successively, the drum be- I tainer to pass into contact with the exposed adhesive coated portion of the label, the carrier being arranged to travel upwardly in an inclined direction relative to the horizontal plane in which the label is traveling. its the container carrier and thebelt structures are traveling at-synchronous speeds, and are so timed that when the container face reaches the plane. of the label, the two ele- .mentsthe container and label-are relatively positioned to locate the label at its proper point on the container. As both elements continue their advance movements,

the gradual upward movement of the con tainer, through the travel of its carrier,

raises the label at its central portion, as indicated in Fig. 3?, theends of the label being thereby withdrawn from the gripping belts during this advancing movement.

When complete contact between label and container is had, the upper face of the label is brought into contact with a holding or gripping structure which acts to grip the positioned portion oi? the label on to the conetainer, the gripping device being arranged no material resistance ispresent on the adhesive side of the label, so that the resistance against such withdrawal is mainly rovided by belts d and d, this resistance being Suficient to insure that the label, is caused to firmly engage the face of the container.

As 1 the container carrier continues its movement, this withdrawal action will continue until the entire label hasbeen removed from the belt structure, the position shown in Fig. 38, in which the label is shown as in embracing contact with approximately half the container circumference, theiree ends of the label projecting downwardly. This carries the container above the plane of the belts which are then led past cleaning structures for removing surplus adhesive, leaving their surfaces clear for the application of a new I coating,

til

'll urther travel of the container carrier.

brings the container into the sphere of ac length. of label contact with the container-' Figs, 39 and 40 indicating two-of the different positions which may be occupied by the container during its travel through thezone of activity of these brushes.

The container and label are practically in the relation shown in Fig. ll upon reaching the end of the brush activity, and fur ther movement of the carrier is arranged in such manner that the container is auto matically released from the carrier, the container being transferred on to a rotating transfer device, the transfer being in such manner that the container is reversed in position, viz: the downwardly projecting ends oi the label provided while on the carrier are caused to project upwardly.

Movement of the transfer device sucoes sively delivers the containers on to a runway along which the containers, with the projecting ends up ward, are caused to move and pass into the Zone of activity of a pair of wiping brushes which wipe the remaining unallixed portions of the label on to the pe riphery of the container, thus completing the labeling operation.

tinuously advanced-camier movements being continuous and the movements during final wiping being substantially continu- 'ous.-so that practically no delay in presenting successive labels and containers is had by thepresence of the preceding label or container, thisl'ength of time being reduced to a minimum through the fact that the advancing movement is in a direction which correspondsto the width or narrowest portion of the container and label. Conse- During the operations forming these cycles, both label and container are 'con- 7 Mid lllli rise a quently, capacity ofthe machine is limited only b the ability to present the containers and la els Although the labels and containers are delivered to the several carriers in rapid succession, a suficient length of time to complete the labeling cycle is given, so that assurance is had that each label will be properly applied, the capacity being provided by the ability of each of the'mechanis-ms to accommodate for operation on containers in rapid succession, an arrangement by which a continuous advancing movement is had, enabling these mechanisms to accommodate for a comparatively large number of containers undergoing labeling activity concurrently.

In describing the specific embodiment disclosed herein, the respective mechanisms will bereferred to in the general order above outlined. i

The several mechanisms are mounted on a suitable frame structure indicated generally at 60, the specific form of the frame structure which may be employed being ob viously a matter of structural detail, variable as desired. Obviously, the frame may be an integral structure or formed of a plurality of members as may be most convenient, the essential being-that those members which carry parts adapted to be operated in synchronism shall. be properly positioned -]11 order to insure that the synchronous movements be had and maintained. Zabel feeding mechanism.

This mechanism comprises a label supply drum. structure A and a label segregating and feeding structure B-which may be termed apicker-these structures being in the form of drums geared together to rotate in opposite directionythese drumsbeing driven from a suitable drive shaft 61 mounted in the frame and driven from. a suitable source of power, as for instance, a motor, not shown. Shaft 61 carries a gear 62 Which is adapted to drive the drum of structure A, as by engaging'gear 62 with a gear 63 of drum 64 of structure A, gear 63 being adapted to mesh with gear 65 of drum 66 of structure B. 7

Referring more particularly to Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive, drum 6% is shown as formed of a stationary side member 67 mounted on the frame (Fig. 3) and a member 68 mounted on shaft 69, member 68 rotating with shaft 69, gear 63 being shown as secured to member 68.

Secured to member 68 is an annular plate "Y0, preferably of wood, this plate being located without a cylindrical member 71 concentric with shaft 69, said member 71 form.- ing the'bottom of a plurality of pockets or compartments which have their opposite ends closed by plate and the inner face of member 67 respectively, the sidesof thepockets being provided" by partitions 72,

these partitions being arranged in parallel pairs to produce pockets which have their directions of depth in correspondence with radii of the drum. The open outer ends of arness labels into the pockets, each pocket being designed toreceive a plurality of labels.

In each pocket is a follower 74 (Figs. 11 and 12) preferably non-circular in cross section and having one end provided with a suitable washer 74:, The body portion of the follower is of less length than the length of the pockets, and carries an extension 74 which is yieldingly supported by the body portion, as by spring 74, the extension carrying a washer 74E of suitable material. Relative movement of the extension and body portions is limited by suitable means as for instance, a pin and slot structure 74:". The followers are located. at the bottom of the several pockets, and the general arrange ment of the follower is such that the weight of the follower will tend to retain the labels in compact arrangement and with the outer label in contact with lips 73, a frictional contact of the ends of the follower ,with the end walls of the pockets permitting this action toitalce place, while at the same time preventing a follower floating action as the drum rotates.

As will be obvious, any desired number of pockets may be employed, the particular embodiment shown in'the drawings employing forty pockets. Since each pocket has a depth sufficient to contain apack having a large number of labels, it will be understood that the drum, when loaded, will carry a supply of labels suficient to permit of operation for a considerable length of time even under the high capacity of the machine.

Obviously, the ockets may be otherwise exposed fon the lnsertion of labels, as by arranging for the ready removal'of mom-- with a plurality of rows of openings, each row extending in the direction of the axis bf the drum. The number of rows of open ings corresponds to the number of pockets of drum 6%, and member 77 may be provided with a pro ecting portion 77 through -*which the openings extend radially of the drum. Drums 6% and 66 are so mounted and geared together that during the dr revolutions a projection 77? is brought into direct opposition to the open end of a pocket,

the outer faces'of the projections practically contacting with plates 73 bounding the open ends of a pocket, thus tending to produce a close connection between the two drums at the particular point where such contact is had. i

78 indicates a plurality of pipes located inside of member 77 and extending in the direction of the drum axis, each pipe serving as a header for a plurality of short pipes 78 which project through the openings in member 77, the head 78 being located in radial alinement with the rows of openings, the number of headers preferably being equal to the number of rows. Each header is connected with a rotatable member 7 9 by pipe connection 78, the inner ends of the connections 7 8 extending radially from member 7 9, as shown more particularly in Figs..13 to 16 and Fig. 19. The inner ends of each connection 78* are in open communication with a laterally extending port 79" leading to the inner face of member 79, as more particularly shown in Fig. 19. This general arrangement brings the open ends of the pipes 7 8 of a row in direct open communication with a port 79 individual to the row of pipes. By bringing any one or more of the ports 79 into communication with suction-creating mechanism and praccally preventing entrance of air into the outer ends of pipes 78 the suction is made effective at the outer ends of such pipes. In the present structure, this action is produced at the instant when one of the projectio-ns 77 is in contact with the opposing walls of the open end of a pocket, thus making the suction effect active to withdraw the outermost label of the pocket from beneath .the lips 73 and into facial contact with the face of the projection, thus practically sealing the open ends of pipes 78 by the action of the suction, this sealing action being maintained until the suction is broken by admitting air into the suction line.

Since it is desirable that these individual suction lines be maintained only during that portion of travel of the drum through which the label is to be carried, controlling mechanism is employed for connecting up those individual suction .lines to the suction mechanism at the proper time .and for the proper length of time. This controlling mechanism is shown more particularly in Figs. 13 to 19 inclusive, in which 80 indicates a member loosely mounted on shaft 7 5 and which'has its inner face in contact with the inner face of member 79, being held in such contact by a pressure applying member 81 carried by and rotatable with the shaft and between which and the outer face of member 80 a suitable retaining mechanism is made active, a simple structure being that of a leather ring 81 in contact with member 80, a steel ring 81 between a flange of member 81 and said leather mem-ber, said flange 81 carrying bolts 81 which are adapted to place pressure on the steel member 81 thus causing the leather member 81 to firmly contact the outer face of member 80. While more 01' less ressure is thus provided, it will be readily understood that slippage may occur between the several members so that if member 80 is held from rotation, the shaft and the parts carried thereby may readily rotate and yet provide an efficient surface contact between members 79 and 80'. Ob-

viously, other forms of mechanism may be not shown, by a pipe connection 82 (Fig. 3)

preferably partly flexible and partly rigid. Mounted in channel 80* is a member 83,

shown more particularly in Figs. 17 and 18 said member being curved in its direction oflength and having a laterally rojecting pin'or arm 83, said pin or arm projecting outwardly through a segmental slot 80* to the outer face of member 80, said pin or arm being connected to a suitable bracket carried by the frame and which is ada ted to hold member 83 against movement. 1. cmber 83, which may be termed a key or valve, is of a length less than the length of segmental channel 80 and serves to close the open ends of those ports 79* which may be opposite this member. @bviously, if valve member 80 be rotated to increase or decrease the length of the advance end of channel 80*, the number of ports '79 which may be in active communication with the suctioncreating mechanism may be readily varied. This variationis shown by comparing Figs. 15 and 16, in which Fig. 16 has member 80 in the position shown in Fig. 13, pin or arm 83 being located at one end of slot 80*; Fig. 15 shows member 80 moved to a position where the in or arm is at the oppositeend of this slot. These two positions of member 80 represent the position when the machine is not in operation (Fig. 15) and the running position (Fig.16).

As shown in Fig. 15, the range of movement of member 80 is such that the key or valve does not reachentirely to the advance end of slot 80 a stop pin 80 cooperating with a suitable stationary structure of the machine preventing sufficient movement of member 80 to cause the valve to reach the end of the slot. Consequently, one of the ports 79 (that port which has the outer end of its suction line in label withdrawing position) is in osition to have suction activity. .ln this position. of the valve the remaining ports are closed from such activity through the presence of the key or valve opposite such ports.

In order to provide the feeding or label delive action involved in carrying the label t rough the desired length of travel ill member 80 is in the position. of big.

of drum 66, member 80 is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 13 which has the effeet of increasing the length of the advance end of the channel open to suction action and uncovers a plurality of ports 79, A stop pin 80 limits the advance movement oi" member 80.

As will be understood, opening of an in creased number oi'pcrts 79 to the suction chamberlprovided by channel 80 renders a corresponding number of suction lines acelvebecoming active only the outer ends of their lines'are in proper relation with the proper pocket of drum 6 1-, As before point ed out, one suction line active whenever l5, and as each port opens, its outer end becomes closed by a label from the label supply,

When the advance travel brings pin 80 into.

contact with its cooperating element, the desired number of ports will then have been opened, and each of the suction lines thus produced will have their outer ends closed by individual labels Fig. ill, nine ports are shown as active.

While member 80 thus held stationary in the position of Fig 16, member 79 is con.- tinuously rotatable in the direction of the arrow in Fi 16 so that the ports 79 will till successively pass into suction communication at the rear end oi the open portion of the channel, while those ports at the advance end will successively pass out of suction communication. This breaking of suction communication, however, does not immediately release the labels owing to the fact that members 79 and 80 are in contacting relation, so that a more or less holding chest is retained on the labels until the perforation reaches a cut-out portion 80 of member 80,

this cut-out portion being open to the at .mosphere, and hence permits the suction line to be flushed with air, the result bein that the label is free to drop or be released so horn its held position, the release being release aided by the in-rush of air through the con cutaway portion may,

nections. This therefore, be considered as a label-releasing element. Obviously, the suction lines, after being flushed in this manner, remain inactiveuntil again rendered active by having their ports brought into communication with the suction chamber.

The release element (the cut-away portion 80 is active on the ports successively. Hence, by providing means for receiving" each label as it is released, and moving the receiving element at a speed sufiicient to carry the released label out of the way of the label next to "be released, with the support traveling at a uniform speed, preferably a speed synchronous with the surface speed of drum 66, it will be readily understood that labels can be positioned on the support in rapid succession and uniformly spaced on the support.

Zabel feeding and adhcsice-appZg z'ng mocha/Mam.

As heretofore pointed out, the support on which the labels are thus received is in the form of a plurality of belts (diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 83), these belts serving not only to leedthe blank in its advancing direction, but also to apply adhesive thereto during such advance movement. The

particular mechanism employed. in the pres ent embodiment will now be described.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, l, 2 and 2 8 lindicates a bandcarrying member having a circular contour and mounted on shaft 85, said shalt being driven through suitable connections with drive shaft til; Mounted at the opposite end of the machine is a similar member 86 mounted on &

shaft 87, shafts 85 and 87 being connected to rotate in unison through a suitable drive connection indicated by the dotted line 88, thus causing members 85 and 87 to rotate in unison. These members carry endless bands 0;, and a", the upper flight of these bands passing beneath drum and over a table structure 89, the direction ofmovement being indicated by the arrow in Fig, 2. At a suitable point and preferably in proximity to the point where the belts enter their upper flight, I provide a suitable adhesive applymg device indicated at C This device is of any preferred arrangement, shown asin the form or" a roll or rolls dipping into a supply tank and contacting with the outer face of the bands Or belts during the band travel, the structure being ada%ted to coat the outer surface of bands a an as the similar surface of band brought into proper relation to a as well a which is bands 0; and

a in advance of this adhesive-applying point. (lonsequently, the outer surface (the upper surfaces of the upper flight) of the bands are provided. with an adhesive coat litltl llll lilo

lltll neraeee ing when reaching the point where the labels are successively released, the result being that each label is deposited at a particular point on the belt and in contact with the coated surfaces of these belts.

During the movement of bands a and a in their return flight, they are passed through suitable cleaning devices, indicated generally at D, and which are adapted to remove the unused adhesive from the surfaces of the bands, thus cleaning the bands before again subjecting them to the adhesive-applying action. The cleaning devices may any suitable type, as for instance, a rota-tlng brush structure movable relative to the band, the brush being adapted to be kept clean by dipping into a tank of water. (9b- .viously, other forms of cleaning mechanism may be employed. If found necessary and desirable, suitable belttightening devlces may also be placed in this return flight.

The adhesive-applying mechanism may be operated in any desired manner, the applying rolls being operated either by frictional contact or by a direct drive mechanism, each type being well-known in the art.

While belts or bands at and a are carried by both members 84 and 86, band a also of endless form, does not extend to member 86,

rolls and preferably through this band passing over member 84 and beneath drum 66 (thus producing the three band arrangement of Fi s. 33 and 34), and then passing out of Sue position as it is carried over a roll 90 which acts to produce the upper end of a downward flight, the band then returning to member 84, such returning movement preferably causing the belt to pass through a surface cleaning device D of suitable form. lhis shifting of the direction of travelof band at leaves bands (1 and a as the remaining supporting band flight. In advance of the pointwhere band a leaves its label supporting position,

bands d and d are brought into activity these bands having a lower flight parallel to the upper flight of bands a and a. Bands cl and d are supported at Ethe opposite ends of such lower flight by rolls 91 (Fig. 2") and 92 (Fig. 2), these rolls being suitably supported, roll 92 being shown as mounted on a swinging bracket ,93 preferably weighted. If desired, roll 91 may be similarly mounted. After assing roll 91,bands cl and d pass upwar ly around suitable a cleaning mechanism D, of suitable type, and then forwardly to roll 92, the latter roll being preferably mounted over table 89. llf desired, suitable belt-tightening mechanism 94 may be provided. 4

As will be understood, the weight action of roll 92 tends to press the labels into close contact with the adhesive coating of belts a and a as these belts carry the successive labels beneath said roll, thereby insuring a be of proper application of the adhesive 'to the labels. As this roll is at the entrance to the particular band relation shown in Fig. 35, the label will practically be gripped by the opposing hands after band (1 passes out of its supporting position, as indicated in Fig. 36, the gripping band relation being maintained until the several bands reach the end of the label engaging flights andenter their return flights.

While the several operations on the labels thus described are such as to accurately po sition the labels at regular successive intervals on the traveling band structure, it is obvious that such positioning is more or less dependent upon the proper action of drum 66 in transferringthe labels from receiving to releasing positions. Owing to the partlcular relatlon of parts, this feed Wlll be accurate as long as the suction action the presence of a complete label at the outer ends of the suction line. Should the label received from drum er be of a size which would expose one or more of the open ends of pipes 78 or should a partial tear of the label expose either of such open ends, the

. M 6 is maintained." This, however, depends upon suction action would be more or less ineffective, owing to the more or less bleed action at such entrance end. i

As it ispreferred not to employ labels of this type in the operation, suitable mechanlsm is employed for meeting this condition by automatically carrying the belt flights away from normal proximityto drum 66, it being understood, that duringiiormal operation such drum practically places the label in contact with the supporting bands. By

carrying the bands away from such normal position, the face of drum 66 will not become coated with the adhesive through contact with the belts when labels are missing, a feature of importance in view of the fact that these label-supporting faces of drum 66 must be free from any coating which would tend to prevent the labels from being properly released during normal operation.

1 Any suitable form of shifting mechanism may be employed,one form suitable for the purpose being shown in Figs. 20 to 24inchsive in which such shifting of the bands is ice ice;

are

not only taken care of automatically, but is also rendered efiective when the machine is inactive or when member 80 is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 15.

95 designates a lever (Fig. 20) pivoted to a stationary portion of the frame and extending beneath and transversely of the upper flight of bands at, a and a Said lever is connected to a vertically movable frame 96. guided on pins 96, a suitable connection 97 extending between the frame and lever. Frame'96 carries a plurality of shoes I 98 which are positioned beneath the belts or hands. Said frame also carries a roll 99v positioned above and extending transversely of the bands, shoes 98 being positioned in proximity to the point where the bands receive the labels from drum 66. llhe shoes and roll are relatively positioned so that during normal operation of the machine, roll 99 is out of contact with the bands while the shoes are in contact with and are adapted to position the bands practically in contact with the labels carried by the drum, springs 100 aiding. in supporting the frame in this position.

The surface speeds of drum 66 and of the band-formed label support are preferably equal so that the label is moved in contact with the support without liability of damaging the label or shifting its position on the support, the particular projection 77 which may be in contact with the support simply moving through its arc of travel in contact with the support, the release.

of the label taking place during this travel through the arc, springs 100 permitting suficient yielding to accommodate for the label. When, however, no proper label is present to protect the face of the projection 77 from the adhesive coated face of the, bands, either through the pres ence of an improper label or when it is desired to stop the machine, roll 99 is brought into contact with the bands and moved downwardly so as to carry the face of the bands away from contact with drum 66, this movement of the roll being provided bymoving frame 96 downwardly.

The movements of frame 96 are made dependent upon variations in opposing pressures madeactive on lever 95, said lever having its free end provided with a bracket 101 to which is secured a cylinder 102, bracket 101 carrying a structure adapted to close the Said bracket also carries a yoke structure 103 to which is secured a suitable weight 104-.

105 indicates a stationary tubular member, the lower end of which carries a plston structure 106 cooperating with cylinder 102 i to form a chamber 107 between the end of the piston and the closed end 101. of the cylinder. The opposite end of member 105 leads, through a valve structure 108 to the line connections of .the suction-creating m chanism, as for instance tube 82.

Valve structure 108 as shown more particularly in Figs. 23 and 24-, in which 2. cas ing 108 carries a plug 108 movable endwise, said plug having a channel or port 108, which, in one position (Fig. 23) provides open communication between suction line 82 and member 105, thus brlngmg the suction line into direct communication with chamber 107 with the result that cylinder "weight 104, bringing the shoes into operation, it being understood, that the suction eiress pressure produced in chamber 107 under normal operating conditions is in excess of the weight pressure, this excess being present as long as the suction pressure is maintained within chamber 107. As heretofore pointed out, the normal operation with proper labels practically prevents feeding of air to the suction lines and hence this suction pressure is maintained. Should, how-- 'ever, drum 66 fail to pick a label from drum is moved downward under the excess pressure and, through the connections, renders roll 99 actlve to withdraw the bands from outlof contact with drum 66." i

As will be understood, this feeding of air will be made effective practically at the row of pipes 78 which is just leaving the label picking or segregating position, and as such row is required to travel a distance in reaching the point where the label is to be delivered to the band-formed support, sufficient time will begiven to permit the lever to become active and shift the bands. desired, the movement of lever can be employed for controlling the stoppage of the machine; various well-known mechanisms made operative by movements of this character may be employed for this purpose. As will be understood, connection between chamber 107 and. suction line 82 is dependent upon positioning of port 108 at the proper point. As plug 108 is supported by a spring 108 which tends to move the plug in a direction to carry port108 out of such position, means are provided in the form of an arm 109 and'a stem 108 for moving the plug to the position shown in Fig. 23 and maintaining it in such position, arm 109 being carried by a part which-is movable with member 80, as for instance, a rigid portion of suction line 82. When member 80 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 15, the movement carries arm 109 away from its holding down position, permitting spring 108 to shift the plug and thus break the continuity of the suction line through port 108, the osition being shown in Fig. 24-. To permit feeding of air to chamber 107 when the plug is moved to this position, casing 108 is provided with a bleed opening 108 and plug 108 is provided with a'port 108 which is brought into connection with member 105 when the plug is in this position. Consequently, air

are i arness will enter through opening 108 and feed chamber 107, thusadecting the suction pressure in such chamber and permit weight 1.04: to shift lever 95.,

; Container feeding mechanism.

As heretofore pointed out, the labels and the labels to such position and the mechanism for providing such feed are above described, i will now describe a mechanism for placing the containers in position to cooperate with the labels As heretofore pointed out, the apparatus, when arranged for large capacity operations, preferably employs a container feeding mechanism which receives its supply from a plurality of sources. in the di closed embodiment l have shown the use of two runways each of which is adapted to deliver the containers to the feeding or con tamer-delivery mechanism within which the containers are manipulated to discharge them from the feeding mechanism in a single succession... This enables supply of containers to the applying mechanism in suiliciently rapid succession to enable a large capacity to be obtained.

A general form of mechanism for delivering the containers. to the feed mechanismv is shown in Figs. 9 and 5, being of a form adapted for the delivery of cylindrical containers having flat top and bottom surfaces,

a type of container employed for many purposes, being more or less shallow and pro- I a L I 0 vided with a removable top, which, before the container 1s brought to the machine, is in closed position with the container filled,

the containers of this type having the label secured to both lid and body, However,

the machine is adapted to operate with un- I filled containers, and the invention is, therefore, not limit/ed in this respect As the two runways are substantial duplicates, a specific description of but one of them is given.

designates a suitableframe composed of bars and rods arranged to form a runway with rods or bars llO forming the sides of the runway, the container moving through. the runway with its cylindrical walls opposing these. side bars. As shown in. Fig. 3, the runway is preferably arranged with a portion extending approximately horizontal and is then changed to a-more or less vertical direction with the discharge end preferably curved toward the feed mechanism. The horizontally-extending portion. is preferably slightly inclined downwardly in the direction of advancing movement, and

this portion preferably employs an endless runw ays.

conveyer band structure with its upper flight practically forming the bottom of the runway, the conveyor, indicated at ill, being driven from a suitable source and is effective not only to support the containers but also as a means for bringing successive eon- 'tainers into contact and maintaining them in such contact while within the runway, it 1' being understood, of course, that relative movement between the band or belt and the container is possible. This tends to insure a constant supply of containers at the discharge end of the runway even though the .positioning of containers at the entrance end of the runway may vary as to timing, etc The positioned containers then pass downwardly through the approximately vertical portion of the runway to the dis charge. end, the latter being provided with a suitable gate mechanism, indicated generally at 112, which permits of the release of the containers singly. in the form of struc ture shown, the rotating feed mechanism operates to open the gate for the passage of a container after which the gate closes until. again opened to discharge the next con ilflellll'f. The particular structure shown is oi well-known type and is not further described inasmuch as any one oi a number of types of structure may be employed for the purpose:

lit will be understood, of course, that each" of the runways is intended to maintain a constant supply of containers which are adapted to be released one by one from the lit may be noted at this point that in operation, the gate structures for these runways operate alternately to discharge containers from one runway and then the other.

The container feed mechanism, shown in detail in Figs. 25 to 30 is in the term of a built-up drum structure which. is ada. ted to receive the individual containers a tor nately from the runways and discharge them successively on to a container-carrier presently more fully described. i

113 indicates a shaft suitably supported on the frame and on which is a suitable wheel l1l,-a sprocket wheel may be employedon which the container-carrier is mounted, the latter being driven as presently described, the resultant movement of sprocket wheel 11lserving to rotate shaft illi Alli

ltlll its 

